GOP Leader John Boehner: I'll Fly Commercial
Posted by Jim Hoft on Wednesday, November 10, 2010, 12:24 PM
Speaker Pelosi liked to fly in style. She racked up an expensive booze and food tab on her flights across the country.
The “Pelosi One” seats 200 and can fly nonstop from Washington to San Francisco.
John Boehner told reporters today that unlike Speaker Pelosi he will fly commercial.
The Hill reported:
Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), the presumptive Speaker-elect of the House, will not use a private jet as Speaker for trips back and forth to his home district, he said Wednesday.
“Over the last 20 years, I have flown back and forth to my district on commercial aircraft, and I’m going to continue to do that,” Boehner told reporters at a press conference.
The statement signals the first time since 2001 that a House Speaker has traveled commerically between Washington and their home district.
Following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the Speaker of the House, third in line to the presidency, was assigned a designated Air Force jet to shuttle them back and forth to their home districts on weekends.
Former Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) used the jet, as does Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). In 2007, Pelosi requested, and received, a larger jet than Hastert had used — this one capable of flying between Washington and California without stopping to refuel.
A spokesman for Boehner said the Minority Leader had already spoken to security officials about his desire to travel commercially on the weekends, and that he would still use military transport for certain types of trips, like those to Afghanistan or Iraq.
He gets it.
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Published May 15, 2012 at 8:05 pm - 33 Comments
gus commented:
Boehner has pledged not to use Botox nor carry a gavel in front of those who do not want HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION rammed down our throats too.
In other words. Boehner is normal and not a Princess.
Mark1957 commented:
They should ALL have to fly on commercial airlines, coach, if they want business class they can pay for it themselves.
Max commented:
“… the Speaker of the House, third in line to the presidency…”
Biden moment. If Biden is 1st in line to be president and the speaker is 3rd in line, who’s 2nd in line? LOL
Mark1957 commented:
Max #3,
Oprah.
bigL commented:
What Mark Said-exactly! they can pay for it themselves. Horrors, that the Congressers should spend money from their pocket. That comes from Us anyway.but if they want an upgrade…buy like everyone else would do.
Boehner will be jus tanother business guyt with a lap-top open.
Max commented:
And, because of his name and position as a conservative leader, who’s wanting to be that John Boehner’s, um, full body scanner image will make it to the internet?
tarpon commented:
ummm, I think he has to fly military jets, security issue … He may not need 200 seats but I am pretty sure it was a security issue, same with Hastert.
Max commented:
bet* (Doh. A graphitypical error)
JimmyT commented:
Max–The president is considered 1st in line after he/she is elected. I don’t agree with Boehner’s position. As Speaker, he could be targeted by terrorist and therefore take many people with him on a commercial flight should it be bombed to get him. IMHO
StandUp4Chuck commented:
My buddy flies for a commercial airline and has had Boehner fly on his plane before. My friend had nothing but good things to say about him. Said he was just a friendly normal kind of guy. Unlike the botox queen who expected everyone to cowtail to her every need.
Kevin P commented:
I would love to see the full tab of Pelousy’s personal Air Force craft since she seized control. Total expenses: fuel, maintenance, flight time, personnel, booze and food. I also want to see a full list of every person on ever flight she “commanded”.
Seized control – that’s how the LSM states the Republican’s position of being elected to majority status. Seized control or “takeover”.
Militant Conservative commented:
Boehner will also get to talk with normal americans in the course of his travels. Rather than segregating himself from the public which he serves. The revolution is just beginning, powder is dry.
Betsy Ross commented:
Well, lah-dee-dah Mr. Boehner will fly commercial…
please, why not focus on telling us how you are going to slice and dice the federal budget by the trillions…now that’s something I would really like to hear from the future Speaker…
Illinois Patriot commented:
Betsy; Please calm down. I’m sure Mr Boehner will tell us what the plan is in due course. The fact that he will fly commercial is welcomed news to taxpayers tired of supporting the Pineapple Princess’ opulant lifestyle at our expense. This was a message. Compare the two styles and see which one the American taxpayer supports.
regularguy commented:
The Speaker needs to fly on a small government plane of some sort for security reasons. He need not have a huge plane like Pelosi abused, but he warrants a small, less expensive plane (prop-style would be adequate) as he would be 2nd in line to the Presidency if, God forbid, Obama or Biden, are somehow incapacitated.
Peggy R commented:
Good, then perhaps we can have some action to stop TSA invasive security scanners and the perv-pat-down.
newton commented:
I think he will truly mean it if he takes the plane and publicly auctions it on eBay, just like Sarah Palin did with that state plane…
Betsy Ross commented:
I’m sorry, I’m just cranky…it just seems that these guys that have been around for a long time don’t quite seem to get it…but, who knows, maybe they do.
bigL commented:
He would be nuts to get on a prop plane. They have a magnetic attraction to mountains,fields and shop-center parking lots. Fly commercial. If it is that dangerous for him get in a Crown Vic with a professional driver, and in a few hrs he is home or where ever. He can work watch tv or rest.
Think if JFKJr had done that.Hired a limo for the group. He’d be Senator from NY now.
Sheila commented:
Don’t apologize, Betsy Ross #18; you’re right to be suspicious. It may only be a symbolic gesture and/or a publicity stunt, but merely the fact that he feels the need to make it is mildly comforting to me. Do I trust Boehner, or any of the Repubs? Hell, no. He and the uber-ambitious Cantor are hard at work getting “experienced” (read GOP insider) staffers into all the Tea Paty electees’ congressional offices. What would really save some money would be to deny military aircraft for the innumerable Codels (congressional delegations globe trotting in style on “fact-finding,” tax-payer funded vacations) and keep most of these guys in their home districts for the majority of the year. Deny them press attention, cocktail parties, and the perks they’ve voted themselves, and watch the monster egos writhe. Now that would be fun.
Mahon commented:
Not that there’s any need to be fair to Pelosi, but DC-Ohio is a little different than DC-San Francisco. Of course the hassle is at the airport, but I’m guessing they’ll find a way around that.
Auntie Em commented:
I’d love to kick Pelosi in her shriveled up butt.
She deserves it.
AuntieMadder commented:
Good catch, Max @ #3.
Sheila #20 – I agree. Expounding some, the meetings and conferences between the Reps, outside of the traditional and official sessions, most if not all of those could be held via teleconferences.
AuntieMadder commented:
Auntie Em: “…shriveled up butt.
” LOL!
Maurice commented:
I think we get caught up in the details. It may or may not be what he is allowed to do or should do, but symbolism is important. It has to start with small things as well as larger items, but if we’re concerned about a Congress out-of-control, then symbolic gestures like this, if followed through, are important.
I rode on a commercial plane with Jim Talent once, and I think he went back and forth to see his family in Missouri every week or two. It meant a lot to me that he was taking the same commercial jet that I was, from DC to St. Louis…and this was one of those little Embraer Brazilian jets, no first class seats, no business class.
How have we shrieked loudly and justly when POTUS has talked about making sacrifices and then parties and spends money like it’s going out of style (oh wait, the dollar is…check gas prices, prices coming to the grocery stores near you!)…we’ve seen the pictures of him as King Louis and Michelle “I never loved America until now” FLOTUS as Marie Antoinette.
There is a hypocritical Grand Canyon between what they exhort and what they do.
If Boehner is signaling that he is going to even somewhat “walk the talk” (or fly the talk?), and yes, he has to follow through, and not leave it at little gestures…it’s a start. It’s how you also get the independents to see who is the party that really gives a damn.
Rather than cynicism over this…and I understand the cynicism, I have it too…we should applaud Boehner and tell him MORE and more meaningful stuff. Don’t stop with the small gestures.
Look to Chris Christie and don’t compromise.
So if Boehner is pushed to take a military flight…I don’t really care, if he explains why and it makes sense (the security thing). But the rest of ‘em NEED TO FOLLOW HIS LEAD.
This is a leadership move. Boehner is trying to be a leader. Will he revert to being a regular Establishment RINO? Dunno, but let’s applaud him for the symbolism and then make him aware we know that’s all it is, it’s a small step on the way to meaningful reforms that will make a difference to the country.
Mark1957 commented:
After all the cost of flying Pelosi on “Botox One”, she should be forced to travel by bus back and forth from SanFran. It only takes about 3 days and they stop in such great parts of every town.
Sasja commented:
Newton, that plane belongs to the Air Force so I doubt if it will be auctioned on Ebay. And I would have no problem with Boehner flying first class on a commercial airline.
I would like to see them rescind their pay increases for next year amongst a whole lot of other spending cuts.
MVH commented:
Well, I see the Orange Guy as a spectator watching a pretty d**n good parade passing by him. He doesn’t want to miss out. So he runs to the front and acts like he started it all.
However, he’ll be elected Speaker. And it’s good to know that he has a little humility as well as respect for our military.It’s good to know that there will be no “Air Boehner.” It’s even more satisfying that there will not be any more “Air Pelosi!” Oooooo, how sweet it is.
kansas commented:
Now that they are not going to be using the Jet for the Speaker, maybe Pelosi can still use it. What do you think?
Sasja commented:
kansas, you aren’t serious? Besides she and her husband have their own aircract which she should have been using all along anyhoo.
Valerie commented:
OT
Here’s somebody else who gets it.
http://legalinsurrection.blogspot.com/2010/11/why-i-love-our-medical-system.html
NOTE: Obamacare discourages catastrophic health insurance (cheap) coverage. This is precisely the kind of coverage that would reach the vast majority of the 20% of Americans that weren’t covered, before: namely, healthy young people who are working but just starting out.
And, it happens to be exactly what they need at that age!
H H commented:
Power and money attract weak people. Strong people attract power and money. The Democrats go for the power and money and have so for decades. I think it is the red carpet treatment that seduces politicians into becoming lifelong incumbents (i.e. thirty or forty year congressmen or senators).
sandy commented:
The Democrats are for the little guy unless they’re in Power. They say Power Corrupts and Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely. I agree Pelosi is absolutely corrupt.
I like Boehner’s style.
sandy commented:
sasja — the thing about rich people like Pelosi is the hate like hell spending their own money.
sandy commented:
Hey Betsy — can you at least wait to attack Boehner until after he takes over?
At least he’s not a 70 year old liberal gal who has had too much botox and too much booze.
Ed commented:
Mr. Boehner should be commended for this! it may b e trivial for some but this is slap in the face of Democrats that allowed their Democratic Speaker of the House abuse an entitlement given to her by taxpayers for the purpose of her safety/security. Pelosi demanded a bigger plane than Hastert when she became speaker, and then proceeded to spend $100K on alcohol onboard her party plane!
Mr. Boehner’s act, although symbolic to some, is a nod for fiscal responsibility that the outgoing speaker of the house never had.
you’re alright in my book Mr Boehner! You have your work cutout for you but it appears that you really did hear us when we elected to vote out many tax spend socialists from Congress!
Joel commented:
Nancy didn’t give a ‘bleep’ for the little guys. Just power, power and more power. It is a Democrat thing.
‘W’ understood it and still does.
And don’t let the media or Washington Republicans tell you Palin is no good either…
Teresa commented:
For security reasons, I’d like to see him use the smaller jet. My guess is that the security types will at some point persuade him to do so.
IrisDiva commented:
Bottom line, Pelosi flys on taxpayer money, Boehner won’t. She is an elitist and thinks she’s better and smarter than most Americans/ She is the perfect poster child for Socialism/Communism.